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. 2025 Jul;207(1):206-216.
doi: 10.1111/bjh.20150. Epub 2025 May 19.

Physical activity, vaso-occlusive crises and pain in patients with sickle cell anaemia in Senegal

Mor Diaw  1   2 , Mame Saloum Coly  3 , Keyne Charlot  4   5 , Matthieu Gallou-Guyot  6   7   8 , Motohiko Miyachi  9 , Tsukasa Yoshida  10 , Macoura Gadji  11 , Saliou Diop  11 , Blaise Felix Faye  11 , Arame Mbengue  3 , Abdoulaye Samb  1   2 , Sarah Skinner  12 , Elie Nader  13 , Brigitte Ranque  14   15 , Philippe Connes  13 , Julien Tripette  7   8   10
Affiliations

Physical activity, vaso-occlusive crises and pain in patients with sickle cell anaemia in Senegal

Mor Diaw et al. Br J Haematol. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Acute physical exercise may trigger vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), creating uncertainty around physical activity (PA) recommendations. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between PA, VOC and steady-state pain in 104 Senegalese male patients with SCA. PA was objectively measured over 5 weeks, recording daily steps and time spent in different PA intensities (expressed in metabolic equivalent of task, MET). VOC occurrence was tracked, and steady-state days excluded VOC days plus 2 days before and after. Pain frequency and intensity on steady-state days were recorded via diaries, and blood viscosity was measured. Ninety-eight patients (29 ± 8 years old) completed the study, averaging 9611 ± 4040 steps/day, with 293 ± 108, 64 ± 69 and 28 ± 32 min in ≥1.5, ≥3.0, and ≥6.0 MET PA respectively. Median daily step count and PA duration were not associated with VOC occurrence. However, higher step counts and more time in ≥1.5 and ≥6.0 MET PA correlated with lower pain frequency and intensity (on steady-state days) and lower blood viscosity. These findings suggest that PA may benefit patients with SCA, but further research is needed to establish guidelines.

Keywords: activity tracker monitor; pain; physical activity; sickle cell anaemia; vaso‐occlusive crisis.

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References

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